Solo Sailors, famous and not so famous but just as adventureous!
Last Updated on Sunday, 12 February 2012 05:05 Written by Sunday, 17 July 2011 04:24
Big Bloke small boat: Voyage of a Mad Man ?
Another book where the cover might put you off, don’t let it. A story of one man’s Atlantic circuit in a 24ft sail boat, great balance of humor and sailing narration. Highly recommended.
An Ocean Away:Small Boat, Big Dream
Certainly a big dream delivered from practically nothing. The author takes you all the way from humble beginnings as a shop keeper in the North of England sailing on a lake to crossing the Atlantic in a small yacht. Very good narrative. Brought back memories of the now out of print Shrimpy.
Where the ocean meets the sky
Very different from the previous two tales – more money, larger yacht, shorter trip with a delivery crew bringing her home. This is much more about the personal challenge of sailing the Atlantic solo.
Maiden Voyage Tania Abei
Give an 18 year old girl a 26 foot yacht and challenge her to sail around the world.
Sailing Alone Across the Atlantic Trevor Wilson
I’ve left of the sub title as it did put me off at first “a pensioners tale” isn’t the best strap-line. This is a story of a one mans dream to cross the Atlantic overcoming several major set backs. Well written.
A World of My Own: The First Ever Non-stop Solo Round the World Voyage
If you haven’t read this it is a must if only to reset your own list of must have gadgets that every sailor needs for a bay day sail. The stores list in the appendix is worth an annual review just so you check on how many bottles of brandy, beer and whiskey you’ll need for an adventure! Takes you all the way from a delivery trip with a difference from India to the Golden Globe round solo round the world race.
The Long Way
Another classic covering the same round the world race as Robin Knox-Johnson’s World of My Own from the perspective of fellow competitor Bernard Moitessier who choices an all together different path.
Last Man across the Atlantic
Well written tale about one mans solo sail across the Atlantic as part of the OSTAR. The author is currently sailing (as of 2012) to the Pacific via Cape Horn on board his yacht Wild Song A man with a great deal of sailing and life experience, who writes with both humour and humility. A journalist by profession who also a great story teller.
Sailing into Solitude – 2011 is the updated version of Val Howells classic account of one of the first single handed yacht race from England to New York, USA across the Atlantic Ocean. Given this was in 1960 and in a 25ft folkboat makes this feat even more remarkable. Originally written in 1966 the author has extensively rewritten the tale publishing it ahead of the paperback on the kindle.
Sailing into Solitude
A real classic single handed sailors yarn, updated, and as fresh today as it was in 1966 when the original was published.